Carl Sandburg dubbed Chicago the "city of big shoulders" back in 1916, and today, it is still the city of big clout.

Barack Obama may have spent his early years here, but he learned his political moves in Chicago, so it makes perfect sense that Chicago anchors the historic Obama presidential legacy and library.

The University of Hawaii made a good pitch but was never in the same league as the University of Chicago, despite the last-minute Chicago brawl over using city park land for the library.

What sort of a consolation prize UH will now merit is likely to be years in decision. Despite Maya Soetoro-Ng, Obama’s sister, pledging that we will be a part of the Obama Foundation’s plans, today there is no clear, publicly announced objective for how to go for second or third place.

David Lassner, UH president, tried to paint a happy face, saying, "While we’re not building that magnificent facility at Kakaako that we proposed, I think that there will be decades of benefit to the state as a result of putting in the proposal, getting on the radar and clearly attracting the attention of the president."

A safer bet would be to expect the brick-and-mortar Hawaii Obama Whatever to fade into Manoa’s academic mists. You are likely to go broke betting on Obama Library Part Deux.

This is not all bad, because the Chicago park land sacrificed for the Obama edifice means that the under-appreciated but still gorgeous Kakaako Makai land reserved for the Hawaii Obama library can now go for a real park in urban Honolulu.

While there are no other specific plans for the eight acres of land next to Kakaako District Park, it is owned by the state and is not slated for development.

"HCDA owns that parcel and the rest of the Kakaako Makai park land. We’re currently conducting an EIS for all the Kakaako Makai park land, as well as a master plan for active use facilities in Kakaako Makai parks," explained Lindsey Doi, spokeswoman for the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

While expecting the HCDA to just do the right thing with public lands under its control may be the definition of foolish optimism, there are some reasons to hope that the public agency can actually pull a park out of the deal.

"That parcel’s use will be consistent with park uses," Doi said in response to an emailed query.

There are dozens of proposed uses now under discussion, ranging from athletic facilities, farmers markets, an art incubator and children’s playgrounds. Doi pointed to suggestions for climbing walls, sliding hills, water fountains, dog parks and more.

"Basically we’re looking for ways to better activate the parks of Kakaako Makai to transform them into better family gathering places," said Doi.

Of course, dreams are free and plans and real parks cost money — but it is always better when Kakaako planners are talking open space and not how many extra stories to tack on to the latest high rise.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.